What's bin Laden up to?
By William Rusher
Posted: December 23, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern
2004 Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
For at least the past year, it was widely assumed that Osama bin Laden would
launch another dramatic attack in the United States before Election Day. Three
years have passed since Sept. 11, and, even on bin Laden's notoriously
leisurely timetable, an encore seemed overdue. Moreover, if his goal was to
impress the American people with his ability to inflict damage on us at will,
the final month or two of a presidential election campaign seemed the perfect
time to demonstrate it.
Instead, however, we were presented in October with another of his chatty
videotapes, warning us that further attacks will rain down on us unless we
change our "policies." This release may well have had an effect on the voters
(John Kerry certainly thought it did), reminding them, as the election
thundered to its close, that al-Qaida is still out there plotting more
mischief.
Say what you will, a videotape is no match for another Sept. 11, and the fact
that he opted for the former rather than the latter suggests one of two things:
Either bin Laden didn't want to launch another attack on the United States, or
he simply couldn't.
It is certainly possible that bin Laden has concluded that Sept. 11, wildly
successful as it was tactically, was a strategic mistake. His agents had been
conducting attacks on U.S. facilities and interests overseas for years (such as
the bombing of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the USS Cole)
without suffering serious consequences.
But when they demolished the World Trade Center in Manhattan and damaged the
Pentagon, an American expeditionary force was promptly dispatched to
Afghanistan to topple his Taliban protectors and deprive him of the sanctuary
in which he had trained his fighters. A dozen of his top aides were captured or
killed; various sources of financial support dried up; new restrictions
hampered international travel; and he himself was forced to seek sanctuary in
safe houses, or perhaps even caves, on the wild frontier between Afghanistan
and Pakistan.
Perhaps he has concluded that attacks on U.S. interests abroad are just as
effective, and provoke fewer consequences – witness the recent attack on the
U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, it was Sept. 11, and not a videotape, that impressed the
name and purposes of Osama bin Laden on the world, and it is only further such
attacks on the American homeland that can confirm his qualification as a major
enemy of the United States, rather than simply a global nuisance. These
considerations make it very likely that he badly wanted to stage an attack on
the United States before the election, but was simply unable to do so.
If that's so, we can thank the major improvements in battling terrorism that
have been instituted by the newly created Department of Homeland Security in
the past two years. The far more comprehensive inspections at airports are a
major annoyance to innocent passengers, but there is no doubt that they also
greatly inconvenience would-be terrorists. The improved procedures for granting
visas have largely closed another loophole. The exchange of intelligence with
our allies on suspected terrorists, and the closing down of sources of funding,
have also had a major impact.
Much remains to be done – the inspection of every freight shipment from
overseas and additional training for baggage screeners are just two examples.
But it is fair to say that the best indication that Osama bin Laden is having
trouble launching another attack in the United States is the simple fact that,
in three years, there hasn't been one.
Of course, we cannot afford to let down our guard for an instant. As President
Bush has pointed out, our measures against terrorism must succeed every time
– bin Laden only needs to succeed once. It is only prudent to assume he and
his lieutenants are probing our defenses, looking for a weak spot, and will
strike hard if they find one.
That is why the war against terrorism must remain the chief preoccupation of
the American government until terrorism is reduced to a minimum. We may not be
able to "win" in the sense of eradicating it completely, but we can and must
render it strategically ineffective.
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| User: "Woods" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
25 Dec 2004 01:57:55 PM |
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TonyZ2001 wrote:
What's bin Laden up to?
By William Rusher
"Bin Laden? I don't care about him. He's not important." - Duhbya, when
he wanted to invade Iraq instead of finding the world's worst terrorist.
Woods
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| User: "Dani" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
30 Dec 2004 02:20:04 PM |
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On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 13:57:55 -0600, Woods <woodsuw@hotmail.com> wrote:
TonyZ2001 wrote:
What's bin Laden up to?
By William Rusher
"Bin Laden? I don't care about him. He's not important." - Duhbya, when
he wanted to invade Iraq instead of finding the world's worst terrorist.
Yeah.. "The most wanted man in the world."
"I won't rest until I find him!" - Duhhhbbya
Bush must take us for such fools. And to think, 58 million Americans
proved his theory (that we must be fools) right.
Pitiful.
Dani
Woods
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| User: "news.infogen.net.nz" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
01 Jan 2005 05:34:46 AM |
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"Dani" <dani7200@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fbo8t0luf5hup5piqp7je4fonktjt4dm0g@4ax.com...
On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 13:57:55 -0600, Woods <woodsuw@hotmail.com> wrote:
TonyZ2001 wrote:
What's bin Laden up to?
By William Rusher
"Bin Laden? I don't care about him. He's not important." - Duhbya, when
he wanted to invade Iraq instead of finding the world's worst terrorist.
Yeah.. "The most wanted man in the world."
"I won't rest until I find him!" - Duhhhbbya
Bush must take us for such fools. And to think, 58 million Americans
proved his theory (that we must be fools) right.
Pitiful.
Dani
Woods
Dani. Its unfornate but most Americans have short memories, they only focus
on the issues of the day, forgetting the issues of yesterday.
Daniel
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| User: "Dani" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
01 Jan 2005 10:49:34 AM |
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On Sun, 2 Jan 2005 00:34:46 +1300, "news.infogen.net.nz"
<anzactz@gmail.com> wrote:
"Dani" <dani7200@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fbo8t0luf5hup5piqp7je4fonktjt4dm0g@4ax.com...
On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 13:57:55 -0600, Woods <woodsuw@hotmail.com> wrote:
TonyZ2001 wrote:
What's bin Laden up to?
By William Rusher
"Bin Laden? I don't care about him. He's not important." - Duhbya, when
he wanted to invade Iraq instead of finding the world's worst terrorist.
Yeah.. "The most wanted man in the world."
"I won't rest until I find him!" - Duhhhbbya
Bush must take us for such fools. And to think, 58 million Americans
proved his theory (that we must be fools) right.
Pitiful.
Dani. Its unfornate but most Americans have short memories, they only focus
on the issues of the day, forgetting the issues of yesterday.
Not I, sir, not I.
(Hey - good to see you back!)
Dani
Daniel
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| User: "TaDa Pope" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
01 Jan 2005 01:33:28 PM |
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Subject: Re: What's bin Laden up to?
From: Dani
Date: 1/1/2005 8:49 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <m4ldt0ptbek79jjua1ogrini9teajd9bkm@4ax.com>
On Sun, 2 Jan 2005 00:34:46 +1300, "news.infogen.net.nz"
<anzactz@gmail.com> wrote:
"Dani" < > wrote in message
news:fbo8t0luf5hup5piqp7je4fonktjt4dm0g@4ax.com...
On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 13:57:55 -0600, Woods <woodsuw@hotmail.com> wrote:
TonyZ2001 wrote:
What's bin Laden up to?
By William Rusher
"Bin Laden? I don't care about him. He's not important." - Duhbya, when
he wanted to invade Iraq instead of finding the world's worst terrorist.
Yeah.. "The most wanted man in the world."
"I won't rest until I find him!" - Duhhhbbya
Bush must take us for such fools. And to think, 58 million Americans
proved his theory (that we must be fools) right.
Pitiful.
Dani. Its unfornate but most Americans have short memories, they only focus
on the issues of the day, forgetting the issues of yesterday.
Not I, sir, not I.
(Hey - good to see you back!)
Dani
Daniel
And, still others are croched under
their night lites and squating on their meeting tables - drooling at
the prospect of what to expect
in the future. They call them
Pentagon Power Prophets.
Tangents are infinite in all of nature in
all universes constantly and at random.
* D OUOSVAVV M *
*PUBLIUS ENIGMA*
CHaRleS Turley
Oh Joy!
The Psychedelic Pope
Patron Saint of the Internet
http://www.apple2.org.za/gswv/me/
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| User: "Daniel Robinson" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
01 Jan 2005 06:50:42 PM |
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Pitiful.
Dani. Its unfornate but most Americans have short memories, they only
focus
on the issues of the day, forgetting the issues of yesterday.
Not I, sir, not I.
(Hey - good to see you back!)
Thank you. I sort of missed some of the old arguments and thought I'd stop
in during my downtime.
The holidays have been great, but back to work tomorrow.
:)
Daniel
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| User: "Dani" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
01 Jan 2005 08:35:59 PM |
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On Sun, 2 Jan 2005 13:50:42 +1300, "Daniel Robinson"
<anzactz@gmail.com> wrote:
Pitiful.
Dani. Its unfornate but most Americans have short memories, they only
focus
on the issues of the day, forgetting the issues of yesterday.
Not I, sir, not I.
(Hey - good to see you back!)
Thank you. I sort of missed some of the old arguments and thought I'd stop
in during my downtime.
The holidays have been great, but back to work tomorrow.
I hear ya. The party is officially over.
I had Christmas, then my birthday 4 days after, then new years eve 2
days after - so I have nothing to complain about.
I'm all partied out.
I just turned the big 25! Speaking of which, my friends are a trip.
They took me out to eat before we hit the dance club on my b-day, and
guess what the shits did? They had the staff *sing* the birthday song
to me! Oh it was horrible; they all started clapping - everyone in
the place was looking at me.. I must've been bright red ..and all I
could do was repeat over and over: "oh my God, oh my God, oh my God"
muttering under my breath - desperately counting the seconds until it
would end.
My friends all *know* I hate that! Hate it hate it hate it.
Ah but I love 'em all.. they're allowed to "take the *****" (get me
going) - bust my balls (another slang term from the area I grew-up in;
women obivously don't have balls.. (well except for maybe Ann
Coulter), but it's said to both men and women) because they're my
loyal, tried 'n true friends 'till the end .. (Oh..and because they
know I'd do the same to them ;)
And yes of course the arguing is still going on here. But I can fully
guarantee you that if I stopped posting entirely - it wouldn't make an
ounce of difference; Tony would still be instigating fights left and
right. But if *he* left - that would be a different story all
together. I may be a wise-***** - but all in all I try to be decent and
friendly to everyone here.
He'd still have Woods, Chris, Amy, Krib, Tom (tw), and a vast array
of others here that can't stomach him to contend with.
So, how was *your* Christmas? ..enough about me already. I'm glad you
enjoyed your holidays - way too many out there can't same the same and
it's a bloody shame (I've been picking up on my Irish and British
friends' lingo .. :) Really, though too many are suffering and I wish
so badly that we could do more. And on the other hand, there are
those who have everything and anything under the sun that they want,
and need.. but they forget what Christmas is all about.
And on that note:
Happy belated Birthday, Jesus!
Cheers,
Dani
:)
Daniel
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| User: "Daniel Robinson" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
01 Jan 2005 10:10:13 PM |
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Hello Dani.
I will stop posting here in a couple of days, so no one has to put up with
me for long :).
It sounds like you had a really awesome time. My holidays have been great
as well, I've spent a lot of time with the children, I'm going to miss them
when they go back to their dads, I've grown very attached, my girlfriend and
I are discussing of having one of our own, I still consider it a big and
serious decision to make
considering I will be the one raising it, I saw Sue trying to raise her 2
children, and being trapped at home with 2 children is something she's not
designed for, I can handle it, plus I can work from home, just not as many
hours as I'd like.
Courtney goes to school this year, so I can work from 9am to 3pm pick the
children up from school, look after them from 3 to 5, then start work again
at 6, I put them to bed around 7.30, but they just watch TV from around 6
until bedtime.
I spent a lot on the children this year, I brought them a new swing slide
set, and a trampoline, its Courtneys birthday today, so we have a special
tea planned, she is 5 :).
Other then that my life is very mundane, work children bed :), Sue works
crazy hours so I end up looking after the children 24/7, a lot of people
feel I'm being too nice since they are not my children, but when I like to
think I'm more responsible then that, I took on 2 children along with the
mother, I accepted the responsibility and I will face up to it.
Other then that I can see that Tony is still driving you nuts, sometimes I
wonder why you bother trying to debate with him.
I'm glad you had a great holiday, but works calling and there are a lot of
people out there who you can help, obviously your a highly intelligent and
caring person, and there is a lot you can do, small steps Dani.
New Years for me was a quiet night with Sue, the children went to their
grandmothers and Sue and I just stayed home watched movies, and enjoyed each
others company, its rear these days to find time for the simple pleasures,
so I find I enjoy them more now days.
I donated 500 dollars to the flood victims, its all I had :( I wish I could
have given more.
I hear ya. The party is officially over.
I had Christmas, then my birthday 4 days after, then new years eve 2
days after - so I have nothing to complain about.
I'm all partied out.
I just turned the big 25! Speaking of which, my friends are a trip.
They took me out to eat before we hit the dance club on my b-day, and
guess what the shits did? They had the staff *sing* the birthday song
to me! Oh it was horrible; they all started clapping - everyone in
the place was looking at me.. I must've been bright red ..and all I
could do was repeat over and over: "oh my God, oh my God, oh my God"
muttering under my breath - desperately counting the seconds until it
would end.
My friends all *know* I hate that! Hate it hate it hate it.
Ah but I love 'em all.. they're allowed to "take the *****" (get me
going) - bust my balls (another slang term from the area I grew-up in;
women obivously don't have balls.. (well except for maybe Ann
Coulter), but it's said to both men and women) because they're my
loyal, tried 'n true friends 'till the end .. (Oh..and because they
know I'd do the same to them ;)
And yes of course the arguing is still going on here. But I can fully
guarantee you that if I stopped posting entirely - it wouldn't make an
ounce of difference; Tony would still be instigating fights left and
right. But if *he* left - that would be a different story all
together. I may be a wise-***** - but all in all I try to be decent and
friendly to everyone here.
He'd still have Woods, Chris, Amy, Krib, Tom (tw), and a vast array
of others here that can't stomach him to contend with.
So, how was *your* Christmas? ..enough about me already. I'm glad you
enjoyed your holidays - way too many out there can't same the same and
it's a bloody shame (I've been picking up on my Irish and British
friends' lingo .. :) Really, though too many are suffering and I wish
so badly that we could do more. And on the other hand, there are
those who have everything and anything under the sun that they want,
and need.. but they forget what Christmas is all about.
And on that note:
Happy belated Birthday, Jesus!
Cheers,
Dani
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| User: "Su Zanadu" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
02 Jan 2005 01:01:33 AM |
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Daniel wrote:
I donated 500 dollars to the flood
victims, its all I had :( I wish I could
have given more.
That's really good of you! I think the world will really pitch in this
time to help them all. At least we can all pull together in that aspect.
We haven't given anything yet. After seeing what happened with money
donated to 9/11 families....we want to make sure we give it to the right
organization.
I did give $10 to a nice bum who was sitting outside the liquor store
last night. I have seen him hanging around for years and he never
bothers anyone or begs. We (my family) have sort of given him the
nickname of "the nice bum".
I have never given money to a bum before because I know what they spend
it on but I didn't care about it and just wanted him to have a nice New
Year's Eve and if that meant he spent the money on alcohol...then so be
it! Just BE HAPPY! :)
Happy New Year to You too,
SuZanne
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| User: " John F Lemke" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
02 Jan 2005 04:45:31 AM |
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"Su Zanadu" <tugbertswife@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:4125-41D79C4D-1291@storefull-3216.bay.webtv.net...
Daniel wrote:
I donated 500 dollars to the flood
victims, its all I had :( I wish I could
have given more.
That's really good of you! I think the world will really pitch in this
time to help them all. At least we can all pull together in that aspect.
We haven't given anything yet. After seeing what happened with money
donated to 9/11 families....we want to make sure we give it to the right
organization.
Mercy Corps. 91% of all funds received go those in need.
http://www.mercycorps.org/home/
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| User: "Su Zanadu" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
02 Jan 2005 10:16:02 PM |
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John wrote:
Mercy Corps. 91% of all funds received
go those in need.
http://www.mercycorps.org/home/
Thanks John. I'll keep them in mind.
This devastation is so incredibly huge. I have never seen anything like
this in my whole life.
SuZanne
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| User: "TaDa Pope" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
01 Jan 2005 11:40:41 PM |
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Rumor has it he's hiding in a cave somewhere.
Tangents are infinite in all of nature in
all universes constantly and at random.
* D OUOSVAVV M *
*PUBLIUS ENIGMA*
CHaRleS Turley
Oh Joy!
The Psychedelic Pope
Patron Saint of the Internet
http://www.apple2.org.za/gswv/me/
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| User: "Tadapope" |
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| Title: Re: What's bin Laden up to? |
26 Dec 2004 03:31:27 PM |
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Rumor has it that he's hanging out
in caves masterbating to pictures of Saddam.
Tangents are infinite in all of nature in
all universes constantly and at random.
* D OUOSVAVV M *
*PUBLIUS ENIGMA*
Oh Joy!
Tom
The Psychedelic Pope
Patron Saint of the Internet
http://www.apple2.org.za/gswv/me/
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